Family | Peaches Prattlings

{February 16, 2018} Gong hei fat choy

That is Cantonese for “wishing you great happiness and prosperity”. In Mandarin, you would say ‘gong xi fa cai’.

This is what you would say to someone to wish them a Happy Chinese New Year. And why? Because today, February 16th, is the beginning of the Chinese New year! It’s the year of the dog.

I found out some facts when I went online. Officially, the holiday is three days, unofficially, it will be celebrated over two weeks, I like that! Chinese New Year follows the lunar calendar, so it’s not the same date every year, hmm…sounds familiar!

The holiday was born out of the myth of Nian, which is also the Chinese word for year, who was a beast that would appear every New Year’s Eve and attack villagers, ouch! So, the legend says that to scare away the beast, villagers would put up red banners and explode firecrackers and bang drums. Does that sound like some Chinese celebrations you’ve seen or heard of?

When I was a kid, we would celebrate Chinese New Year with a family we were close with, it was wonderful, the food, the family, friends and I’ll never forget the red envelopes with cash in them. I bet I still have one of those envelopes!

Just like astrological zodiac signs, each sign of the Chinese zodiac has their own personality traits. The dog is a true companion, associated with loyalty, honestly, intelligence with a strong sense of right and wrong. They are known to be swift and passionate believers in their own personal philosophy. The dog does its best to protect high-integrity people and support their cause.

Famous dogs: Winston Churchill, Mother Theresa, Elvis Presley, Bill Clinton, Steven Spielberg, Madonna and Michael Jackson!

I wish to tell all who are celebrating and especially JCT, her daughter, ST and her mom, LaLa, Gǒu nián jí xiáng.

{February 14, 2018} February 14th, what a day!

It’s a special day for a lot of reasons, let’s talk about why!

First, it’s Valentine’s Day. On the one hand, there’s a lot of pressure…that people put on themselves. To show their loved ones that they are loved. It’s a happy day for some, for others, not so happy. If you’re single and don’t want to be, it screams at you. If you’re in a relationship, some use it as a test to see what their partners will do for them, like it proves something. If you’re single and you’re happy, it doesn’t make a difference.

You know the song, ‘if you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with’, well that can count for Valentine’s Day. You don’t have to be with ‘that special someone’, you have to be with people you care about. Friends, kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, families, co-workers, whoever makes you happy!

I spent it with two co-workers who’s company I enjoy very much, DLP and SH. We went to the Chicago Diner, one of my favorite vegan restaurants that neither of them have been to, so it worked for me! They both wanted to try it, no reservation needed and the company was stellar, what more could you want?!

And when I got to my hotel room, look what my sweetheart sent me. Sigh. Don’t tell, but I think he likes me a little.

Second, it’s Gotcha Day for Miss A, my very special girl. Gotcha Day is the day when adoption is official and Feburary 14th is Miss A’s Gotcha Day. How fabulous is that?! The traditional day of love is the day that SDL and Miss A became official, mother and daughter. SDL’s sister became Aunt D and I became Auntie G to a wonderful little girl.

How about that, three different types of love on the same day. It’s ‘just another day’ for some, special for others, but really, it’s what you make of it. If it’s a day that lets you express yourself a little more, more power to ya!

And no matter what my dear friends and family, I love you every day!

{February 14, 2018} Two random butt dials in a day? What are the odds?

I finally remembered what it was I was going to tell you yesterday!

First, do you know what a butt dial is? That is where you randomly dial someone’s number on your cell phone without realizing it. It’s called butt dialing or pocket dialing because people would keep their cell phones in their back pocket, hence, pocket or butt dialing.

I had two random butt dialed calls from two of my sister/friends…on the same day! The first was JCT at about 7am, I answered and called her name, nothing. I’m not sure if she got my text checking on her, hmmm

The next came at 4pm, it was RJS! She answered when I said her name and then asked if she called me or did I call her?! We caught up for a minute and then it was over. It was loverly.

So, what does that say about our bond, I say it’s something special, they both had me on their subconscious, so not in their control and I love that about them! Hmm…who’s butt dialing next?

{February 3, 2018} Grace and Frankie Season 4…I want some of that

So, you know how much I love Grace and Frankie, well, I hope you do, I’ve mentioned it a few times. So, now you do!

If you haven’t watched it, basically the women, Grace and Frankie were married to Robert and Saul, respectively and Robert and Saul have been having an affair for about 20 years, it all comes out, the men leave the women and marry each other.

Grace and Frankie only tolerated each other all these years and now, they share the beach house the two families owned together and they’ve become friends and more, they become family, if that makes sense.

Now, it’s a few years later and they are closer than ever, they are best friends and when one moved away the other was devastated then she moved back and now they’re together again.

Grace is a little more straight laced and serious, loosening up a bit and Frankie is an artist, free thinking and coo-coo for cocoa puffs. I have a feeling my friends would say I’m more Frankie than Grace. I’m ok with that!

So, I’m sitting here watching season 4 and someone points out what they have with each other and someone said “I wish I had a Frankie” her sister says “I thought I was your Frankie” and I realize, I have that with my close friends, I am so very grateful for that.

But then I started thinking…who would be the Grace to my Frankie when we’re older? Someone to live in a giant beach house with an attached studio, share things with, do nothing with, scheme, watch movies on the sofa eating junk food, take care of each other when we’re not well, hide us when we don’t want to be seen and fight for each other.

Each of my sister/girlfriends have so many great qualities, I want to live with all of them in a giant house. They don’t all know each other, but they all know me and I want to grow old with all of them. Can’t I build this fabulous house on the beach that has enough rooms for all of us and each night I get to veg out and be silly with each of them? Wait, now we sound like one of those Mormon families with multiple/sister wives! OMG!

That’s what I do with each of them in different ways and I love it! JCT and I sit in her recliner chairs, even fall asleep there sometimes; TS and I sit on opposite love seats; RJS and I sit on opposite sides of a sofa sharing a blanket, SDL and I sit at the kitchen table and drink tea, CKM and I were always out, so we had a tradition of either sitting in each other’s cars or standing between the two for hours! LBK and I sit in her recliner sofa or at the kitchen table. DLP and I sit on the sofa in front of the fireplace at the Waldorf Astoria or on the floor in her apartment and WIS and I sit for hours in different vegan restaurants. And GES, we sit on the sofa together sharing a blanket, in the kitchen at the counter or on one of our beds at her house. CWB and I don’t live anywhere near each other so our time is on the phone, but I bet we’d sit on the sofa and talk all night.

Wow, I do the same thing with each of them, in slightly different ways, but it’s the same wonderful tradition and it’s not like it’s planned, it just works out that way. I wouldn’t change a thing!

So…back to my original idea…can’t I have that fabulous house with room for everyone? I want to grow old with each and every one of them. I love you all so very much! Wow I’m lucky!!!

{January 30, 2018} Three years! Happy Anniversary honey!

Who knew that January 30, 2015 was a day that would change my life forever! Here we are three years later, wow!

We emailed for a week and then went out on our first date, go figure! We didn’t talk over the phone, just email and the emails were great! Back and forth, getting longer and longer and more clever, I knew I was in for an interesting ride, no matter what the outcome!

We agreed on an Irish pub, I had just gotten back a few months earlier from Ireland, so you know where my head was! He picked me up on the very snow covered street of my sister’s house, that was the year that no one flew or went to work for about five Mondays in a row, Mother Nature was having quite the year!

We went to the pub, had a great time talking, laughing, getting to know each other, even closed the place down. We talked in the car on the way back to GES’, then a little more inside, everyone was very much asleep.

We had two more dates over the following weekends, one was a bad mystery dinner theater at my sister’s synagogue, the next…you ready for this?! He took me skiing for the weekend! Now, that’s how you do a third date! It was Valentine’s Day weekend, so there roses, how do you think the other fellas fared with their honeys?!

By then, we knew, yup, I was for him and he was for me and we were gonna be happily stuck with each other and neither of us have regretted a moment of it since!

We’ve had quite the adventure! In our first year together, he went with my family to the Bahamas after only a few months of dating! Then we went to Nova Scotia over the summer, there were ski weekends, beach weekends, Boston weekends, then our third and biggest international trip, twenty one days, 24/7 in Europe together. Do you remember? Portugal, Spain, France, Hungary, not too shabby!

Then, a move to Hawaii, talk about an adventure! Surprising him for our first anniversary! I’ll never forget the look on his face, oh, how wonderful! And there began my weekend travels to Hawaii, it’s not for the faint of heart my friends!

We’ve had great adventures together, explored new territories, for us, tried new things, enjoyed the old ones, seen each other through ups and downs, surgeries and recoveries, craziness, distance, frustration, joy, compromises, defeats, triumphs. Each moment, each experience, each year has brought us closer, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world and I’m going to speak confidently about PSM, neither would he!

Happy three years together, my love, here’s to the next thirty!

Day 25

{January 30, 2018} Happy Birthday RJS!!!

I was very self involved this weekend with my time at home, I didn’t tell you about the birthday of a very special friend, RJS!

I’ve told you about RJS before, she and I have known each other since 2009 and it was love at first site! We hit it off immediately, kindred spirits I would have to say. I met her on the same projects as ST and JCT, actually the same day as JCT.

She’s a strong, vibrant, impressive, smart, loving, silly, adventurous spirit. She sees the good in everyone, at least she tries! And that is one of the things I love about her.

She’s a fighter! A survivor, who fought a great fight and won! And through it all, never lost her lust for life or sense of humor, and like all fighters, she rocked the bald look when it was time!

She’s an artist, a glass bead maker and can craft amazing creations with glass, the way she bends glass rods and makes beautiful beads. She has worked in many different mediums, she was learning steel work recently, I hope I remembered that correctly!

She is one of those friends who become family instantly and when we talk, it’s like no time has passed. We can talk on the phone or sit together and talk for hours and if someone doesn’t stop us, we go on and on and on!

And what a honey to her love, KS and her fur babies, Max and Maddie. I’ve told you about them, I’m Auntie J to the kiddies and stand in cat sitter sometimes.

I’m so excited that I can tell you about my friend and the day to celebrate her, January 26th. Happy Happy Birthday RJS, I love you!

{January 28, 2018} Had to come to Hawaii to see each other!

We had great plans of getting up VERY early to go watch the sunrise on the other side of the island. Think anyone remembered to set their alarm? Nope!

When I say very early, like 4am, so we can drive the hour to watch the sunrise. Guess what, I saw the sunrise, right outside my bedroom window just fine! Ha ha! What I need to do, is the first Friday I get home, go when I get up on my own at 4am!

Well, we got up eventually, I made some breakfast and we got some more planning done for our vacation! No, not telling! One thing I can tell you… neither of our hotel points or airline miles are going to help with this trip!

You should have see us, both propped up, laptops and cell phones in hand, comparing prices, looking for hotels, airfare, downloading guides. Adorable!

But all of that planning is getting our juices flowing and we are getting very excited! Now, if we could just get some other scheduling things into place so we can proceed and make definitely arrangements!

Then, I got the text I had been waiting for! WIS was docking in Oahu with a friend! They are on a 15 day cruise to Hawaii and it worked out for me to be here this weekend! We realized we haven’t seen each other since about September, go figure for us to see each other we have to go all the way to Hawaii!

They had a list of things to do, they had tickets for Pearl Harbor at 2pm, so the perfect place to meet, which was on their list, the Aloha Swap Meet! I’ve told you about it, it’s a giant swap meet, like a flea market on crack! It’s an Oahu staple, at the Hawaii University Stadium, open Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday.

To refresh your memory, it’s got everything you could imagine and I’m sure things you couldn’t! It’s a great place for souvenirs to take back home for others or yourself. T-shirts 7 for $20, how do you beat that! Car seat covers, fresh fruits and vegetables, ukuleles, candy, coffee, lotions, stickers, you name it, you can probably find it! I believe Santa found the hair bobs for Miss A at the swap meet!

We walked around together, catching up, looking, enjoying, laughing. PSM and I bought a few things, go figure! We got some snorkel masks, the ones that cover your full face and I can attach my go-pro to it!!! We also got free waterproof cases for our phones with that purchase and we bought waterproof bags that we can attach to the stand up paddle boards, which can also convert to a backpack for easy carrying. It will hold a towel and a change of clothing. We can even use it swimming and/or snorkeling! We rock! So, if you visit, we are set with whatever you need for the beach! I’ll show you the signs he got me later, I forgot to take pictures before I left for the airport.

After we got our fill, we went for raman for lunch near the stadium, which was also very close to Pearl Harbor, perfect! This was a new experience for them, so a lot of fun deciding, discussing, tasting, experiencing. We talked travel, cruises, Disney, WIS’ friend, is a travel agent and she gave us some ideas for the trip we want to take, coincidence? I did feel bad because we started catching up on work, just as we do when we meet for dinner, so at some point I think both PSM and S started to zone out, sorry! PSM and I did give them some great ideas for the other islands they were going to visit! Hope we made up for the work stuff!

After lunch we parted ways, lots of hugs and goodbyes and they headed off to Pearl Harbor and we went home. I finished packing, gathered whatever I needed for my flight, said goodbye to Mollie, stopped at Down to Earth for some vegan munchies, oh my! And then off to the airport.

I have to say, it gets harder each time I have to leave. Especially after a great weekend like this, relaxing, no pressure and quality time together! I cannot wait for our vacation, it is going to be that times a lot!

And then it was up, up and away. I watched a few movies, got in about an hour of sleep and we’ll be landing soon and then it’s back to the grind and the cold. Looking forward to another great week in Illinois! How was your weekend!

Day 23

{January 28, 2018} A day with my fella…

Why can’t we sleep in on Saturday? Seriously? It’s Saturday, the weekend, ever hear of a day of rest? Yeah, me neither! Up early, let’s just say the sun hadn’t greeted us yet. Not fair!

PSM and I sat out on the lanai and had our morning drinks, talking and just enjoying each other’s company, the sunrise and the view. It doesn’t change from this spot day to day, but it’s so wonderful, peaceful, inspiring, calming and beautiful, who cares!

After a while, we decided on a plan for the day, so he went off to do his PT exercises and I did my workout for the day, that trainer of mine is trying to kill me, even virtually!

Then, load up the car; beach blankets, towels, chairs, bottles of water, book, headphones and sunscreen, of course, pet the pooch and away we went. We went to Haliewa Town, on the North Shore and stopped at Cafe Haliewa for breakfast, we were famished! We sat out back, which is only open until 11am, we were lucky. We had a yummy breakfast of a veggie omlet and hawaiian sweet bread french toast with bananas. Doesn’t it look yummy? Tasted just as good!

Then…after a rough morning of nothing, ha ha, we needed a break, so off to Waimea Bay. We found a great spot under a palm tree and set up camp. PSM settled in for a long winter’s nap, ha ha, couldn’t resist that! I went to the shoreline and thought I’d go in and go in I did. The waves were rough, I made it in, was really enjoying myself and a big wave came and stole my fabulous $5 sunglasses from Walmart that I’ve had for about three years. I la la la love these glasses and I hope I can find another pair! I really think Mother Nature has something against me! First my ankle and now my shades, what gives momma!?

After some frolicking in the ocean, and by the way, I cannot wait, like PSM, I know! for his shoulder to heal so that he can frolick and play in the surf with me! I headed back to PSM, grabbed my towel and laid down in the sun, sunblocked, I promise, I learned my lesson! I finished the book that TS had given me and I, OMG, LOVED it! I’ll tell you about it soon!

We sat, hung out, enjoyed, watched people and then…can you see the little bubble of surf? We saw whales! Awesome!!! January is the time for whale watching in Hawaii and there they were! It was cool seeing some yesterday and here we are today seeing them again!

I did like that the lifeguards would give a warning every once in a while about the surf being strong, keep the kids out eventualy and if you wanted recommendations for calmer waters, come to the tower. Very cool. They also warned people to not jump from the rocks if you are not a strong swimmer. I saw t-shirts to that effect! Oh brother!

Eventually, we thought about getting something to eat and along the way up the North Shore, we stopped at Ted’s, which is a famous bakery and got some sweet rolls. Then on to the next beach! I apologize, I can’t remember the name, but look at it, gorgeous,sigh! The sand was much more course, I love how diverse the beaches are!

On this beach we started planning our next vacation. Guess where?! Not telling, but it’s in the Pacific! Yup, we live in the Pacific, in paradise, on an island and what are we going to do for vacation? Go to another island! We figured as long as we live in this part of the country, go see things on this side of the world! I cannot wait to tell you where we’re going!

Now it really was time for food! We went to the Kahuku Sugar Mill, it is now a tourist attraction with food trucks, shops, not much else. They didn’t have anything we really wanted so we went back into Haliewa and went to a Thai restaurant that neither of us cared for, so I’m not going to tell you the name, but the atmosphere was nice and the company even nicer. One of the things I marveled at was that in Hawaii there aren’t many places you actully have to get dressed up to go. Most places you can walk in after coming off the beach, they’re ok with it. Welcome to island life!

After dinner, back to the house to chill and pass out, wouldn’t you after that day?! Beach and beach, it can wear you out!

What does tomorrow hold?!

Day 22

{January 26, 2018} My happy office…my happy dog…my happy place…my happy honey

It was a pretty happy day, wouldn’t you say? Wait, I haven’t told you about my day for you to make a determination!

Since it was my first morning at home in Hawaii, of course, I woke up way to early, 4am, but that was perfect for starting work, 8am central time, that means I can knock off about 12pm/1pm local time. I did some work from bed, I wasn’t quite ready to get up officially. When I was ready, I got dressed, my weekend uniform: bathing suit, shorts and a tshirt. Then to the table downstairs and then outside while the sun was coming up.

So, not too shabby for a temporary office, wouldn’t you say? My happy office.

Oh, that plane…I texted SDL, she was convinced that it was the same plane, every day!

Eventually, I had to go back inside, the sun was high and in my eyes and no sunglasses were going to help.

A little while later, Mollie came home, she’s been with the dog walker all week since PSM has been on Maui for work all week. So nice to have her home, it was so quiet coming home last night, no dog, no honey. Now… see, my happy dog.

I had a few conference calls, did those, sent emails, updated some materials and then I was done for the day. My happy time of day.

I got a towel, book, blanket, bottle of water, pet the puppy and off to… you, you guessed it, my happy place! What more do I have to say?!

I talked to a few people, some locals, some home to visit, some on vacation and as a treat, we got to see whales! January is the time to see them in Hawaii! We saw two moms with their calves, so cool!

I bobbed in the water, played in the surf, started to read an amazing book that TS gave me, napped for a minute, went back in the water, only to get my left ankle pummeled by some rocks, ouch! But… Mother Nature made up for it by this amazing sunset, wouldn’t you say?!

What was missing? PSM and Mollie! Mollie isn’t traveling as well as she used to and admittedly, without her, I was able to stay on the beach a lot longer. PSM on the other hand, was coming home from Maui and I would meet him for dinner later, that would be my happy honey.

So… what do you think? Happy office, happy puppy, happy place, happy honey, happy me!!

Day 21

{January 24, 2018} I love my friends and family

I was just thinking tonight how much I love my friends and family and I got this in my fortune cookie.

“You will always have good luck in your personal affairs.” Could you have a better fortune? I wasn’t joshing when I said I was thinking tonight how much I not only love, but like my family and friends and you know you’re included in that group!

I am so very lucky to have the people in my life that I do. The people in my life enrich it in so many ways. Tonight I talked to ST for about an hour and a half, we had the opportunity because…I was supposed to talk to CWB, but something came up, so it was me and ST on the phone. And the other day, LGR, that was fabulous.

My friends and family accept me for who and what I am, which, admittedly, at times can be a bit coo-coo for cocoa puffs, one of my favorite sayings. I get enthusiastic about things, people and activities I love, sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming to people who don’t know me, but the people who do know me, they are sometimes tickled, sometimes annoyed, sometimes exasperated and some times…yup, that’s who she is. And for that, I thank them!

You’ve probably noticed a bit in the way I write, it’s exactly the way I talk. My friends and family have said they hear my voice when they read my posts, I think that’s peachy keene!

So, as I sign off, thank you friends and family. You made my fortune come true and I hope it stays true! “You will always have good luck in your personal affairs.” I wish nothing less for you!

Day 18

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